Visitor Information
Car Rentals in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Attractions

It's not hard to convince someone to visit Santa Barbara. Known as the American Riviera and only an hour and half north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, revered for its vacation-inspired atmosphere, beautiful beaches and countless sun-filled activities, sells itself. Blissfully bereft of traffic jams, honking horns and tall skyscrapers, Santa Barbara sounds like crashing waves and sits on a subtropical latitude framed by high-rising mountains. A relaxing and idyllic Southern California beach community, Santa Barbara has it all: beaches, natural beauty, world-class resorts, fine dining and mellow beach cafes, art, upscale shopping and a look and feel that mirrors its multi-faceted history.

Santa Barbara Zoo
Walking into the Santa Barbara Zoo, visitors must cross the mini-train tracks — an immediate indication that there is a ton of family fun inside. The train, which runs around the perimeter and costs about $2 per ride, is just the starting point of a fun, educational day in the beautiful Santa Barbara outdoors. More >

Goleta Pier
Only 10 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara, North on Highway 101 exit UCSB/217. Turn off Sandspit Rd., which curves around to Goleta Beach and a restaurant cleverly named Beachside. During the week and especially on the weekends, this Santa Barbara pier is packed with fishing poles and locals trying to catch the elusive "keeper."

Old Mission Santa Barbara
2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara CA; Tel. 805.682.4713
Founded in 1786, the Santa Barbara Mission is the most historical site in Santa Barbara, still functining as a church for many locals. Self-guided tours are available daily from 9am-5pm, giving visitors a panoramic view of the city while surrouned by rose gardens and a large lawn. It is the only place in Santa Barbara that gives its visitors a real taste of Santa Barbara's history from the Chumash Indians to today.

Santa Barbara Bowl
1122 N. Miplas St., Santa Barbara CA; Tel. 805.962.7411
The Santa Barbara Bowl is not your typical concert venue, but rather one special to Santa Barbara. Nestled next to a large hill, Santa Barbara Bowl is secluded and private and every seat is close to the stage. Booking small acts to big names, the SB Bowl attracts a large crowd. This open-air amphitheater, just a few minutes from downtown Santa Barbara, offers Santa Barbara visitors exceptional music under the stars and close to the artist.

Santa Barbara Piers
Santa Barbara boasts a number of fishing and sightseeing piers that draw locals and tourists alike. Since most everything in Santa Barbara is expensive, smart Santa Barbara visitors know that all they really need is sun, beach and a family of dolphins swimming by to really experience this Southern California Eden. Watch locals pull in halibut or take a long stroll to the end of the pier at sunset and enjoy panoramic views of Santa Barbara's coastline.

State Street
State Street, Santa Barbara CA
State Street, the cosmopolitan lifeline of Santa Barbara, offers tourists and locals an innumerable amount of restaurants, bars and shopping, all of which flow towards the greatest Santa Barbara attraction of all, the Santa Barbara coastline. Vintage street lamps, red brick sidewalks, palm trees and Spanish Colonial architecture characterize the look of State Street, while the State Street nightlife scene ranges from hip and expensive bars to mellow blues venues. As for restaurants, State Street offers beer-battered fish and chips all the way to white linen California fusion cuisine, all on one easily navigable Santa Barbara strip.

Stearns Wharf
Stearns Wharf is in downtown Santa Barbara right next to the Harbor and West Beach. Aside from fishing and soaking in vistas, a Santa Barbara visitor can also can also visit any number of oceanic restaurants serving homemade clam chowder and other seafood specialties. Even go wine tasting, eat salt water taffy or get a palm reading from the indelible Madame Roshinka at this nautical Santa Barbara attraction.

The Harbor
At the foot of Santa Barbara's main State Street lies the Harbor and its adjacent stretch of beach. Hundreds of commercial and recreational boats bob idly in the blue water and because Santa Barbara is all coastline, both storage of boats and water-related activities are common. If a walk along the water's edge isn't enough, Santa Barbara's harbor offers a variety of activities such as kayaking and sportfishing to get the visitor off the land and into the Pacific.

--Reviews by Jessica Pedersen